Tough and Practical

First of all, it's great to be back between the covers of CLASSIC TRUCKS, (even if it's only for an occasional visit). This time around I wanted to show you folks what I think is a great product that though may not be something you'll choose to use in your classic show truck, you'd be smart to consider for any truck that carries even a occasional load.

Sure, there's lots of options available when it comes to what I lightheartedly refer to as "cargo condoms" nowadays. You've got your typical dealer or parts retailer-type plastic slide-in units, commercially applied spray-in coatings, and the much more economical and customizable self-applied coatings -- and to be fair, all of 'em have their good and bad points.

Prefabricated injection molded units are the easiest and cleanest to install (just drop the gate and slide 'em in), but "slide" is the operative word here. These liners seem to be distant relatives of ice skating rinks, items carried in them inevitably seem to traverse every square inch of bed floor as you maneuver through town - unless you spend sufficient time securing them into place before you hit the road (something I rarely ever remember to do).

On the upside, commercially applied spray -in coatings are usually much less "slick" and seem to protect your bed from fidgety cargo to a certain extent, at least better than hard plastic - making them, in my eyes anyway, superior to hard plastic liners. Their drawback is the fact that they've got to be professionally applied, which involves making appointments, driving cross town to a dealer, and leaving your baby in the hands of a "qualified installer." Another thing to consider is cost. Commercially-applied coatings ain't cheap. Depending on where you're located, these products can run you anywhere from $300.00 to $500.00 bucks!

This leaves us with self-applied coatings. This category's my choice, as this option fits both my budget and my needs. But, there are considerations to be made as there are a few different brands and formulas on the market so check 'em out and choose the one you believe is the best. I did my homework and decided on Herculiner (manufactured by Old World Industries). I chose it because of a few reasons. First, it's a polyurethane based product that contains granulated rubber which provides a coarser-than-average finish. This makes it virtually slip-free and the rubber "grit" I think will stand up better than a sand or silica-based mixture. Next, it can be roller applied, brush applied, or sprayed. And, it's both affordable (under a $100.00 for a standard 6-foot bed) and available in a selection of colors - black, red, gray and perhaps by the time you read this, white. But, one of the things I liked about Herculiner is the fact that in case I screw it up, by gouging somehow down the road, it can be spot repaired unlike some other brands that won't allow a fresh coat to adhere to a cured one. For goons like me this is a real plus.

Anyway, as I said earlier, bed protection is a good idea for any truck that carries a load, so follow along as we coat the bed of an early Chevy - with Herculiner.